Altamonte Little Leaguers Want To Play It Again

The Little League World Series produces a feeling of euphoria that Jerrey Thurston would love to enjoy again.

''Walking onto the field in Williamsport with 40,000 fans takes your breath away,'' Thurston said. ''Even for a 40-year-old adult.

''No high I know of can equal it.''

Thurston was recalling that week spent in Williamsport, Pa., a year ago when the Altamonte Springs team he managed finished second to Seoul, South Korea.

Thurston offered no regrets for failing to win the championship.

''I'd do it all the same,'' Thurston said. ''And I sure would love to have the opportunity to do so again.''

To help relive a few of those glorious moments, the Altamonte Springs team and parents have planned a reunion for Saturday. They'll watch a tape of last year's championship game and then watch this year's championship final.

Chris Radcliff, one of the many Altamonte Springs stars who became instant heroes to millions of American Little League fans through the telecast of the championship game, says he best remembers hitting a home run in the title game.

Watching the game on tape, Radcliff, who played center field, said he couldn't recall what was going through his mind as he circled the bases other than he was elated. It was one of two home runs Radcliff hit in the three games.

Last year Seoul jumped out to a 4-0 lead en route to a 6-2 victory.

''I'd like to be able to play the first inning over again,'' Radcliff said. Radcliff, who will be a freshman at Longwood Lyman High School this fall, recalled the wonderful experiences of meeting players from other parts of the world.

''The Korean team was interesting,'' Radcliff said. ''The way they acted and the way they talked. We could never understand them.''

Though they were efficient and mature on the baseball field, the Koreans, according to Radcliff, were just the opposite off the field.

''At dinner is when we got to talk with the teams,'' Radcliff said. ''The Korean team was just a bunch of normal young guys then.''

That inability to communicate or understand English is what Thurston felt to be a major advantage for Korea in the championship game.

''Our guys got caught up in the excitement,'' Thurston said. ''The Korean team had the advantage because they didn't understand all of what was going on.''

For Aaron Iatarola, who pitched Altamonte's 4-2 semifinal victory over Southport, Ind., the Little League World Series experience was ''the best thing in my life.''

That victory over Indiana was especially rewarding for Iatarola, because his family orginally moved from that state 10 years ago.

His grandparents and several aunts and uncles traveled to Williamsport to watch that game.

''Being involved in the world series changed me a lot,'' Iatarola said. ''Especially regarding discipline.''

But it was an especially fun time according to Iatarola. ''I'll always remember playing ping pong with players from the other teams and exchanging hat pins,'' Iatarola said. ''At first it was easy to trade with the Koreans. They didn't know what was going on. Then their ''uncles'' Williamsport chaperones told them not to trade any more.''

''I really felt Aaron grew up and became a little more independent because of the world series,'' Aaron's mother, Candy Iatarola, said. ''It was quite a rewarding experience for him. He learned to share things with boys from other parts of the world.

''The parents all became very close, too. There was kind of a bond there. It was good for us because we just moved to Altamonte Springs the year before and didn't know a lot of people.''

''We had a camaraderie that I've never experienced with a group,'' Thurston said. ''It's something I'll always cherish.''

''After watching our teams this year I can appreciate how hard it is to make it to Williamsport,'' Carol Albert said. ''It's tough getting out of the district.''

Danny Albert, the Altamonte first baseman of a year ago, recalled how the Korean players wanted to ''trade for our radios.''

''They even brought over Korean gum,'' Albert said. ''They were offering us their shirts and hats for our radios.''

Albert singled and drove in a run in the championship game. The disappointment of the loss was hard to accept, but losing to Apopka in the district tournament of this year's Junior Tournament was even tougher. ''We knew what kind of team we had this year,'' Albert said. ''But going to the World Series two years in a row is almost impossible, I guess.''